Ode to A Pumpkin

Everywhere the pumpkin! The one unequivocal sign of Fall has to be the pumpkin. You see them in storefronts and front yards and porches. You see them on mantels and hearths and tabletops. You see them stacked or sitting side by side. There are pumpkins painted completely black and pumpkins covered in velvet. There are pumpkins picked in pumpkin patches at the local farms. There are pumpkin carvings and pumpkin glows. There are pumpkin spice lattes and pumpkin spice cupcakes. There are pumpkin breads and pumpkin beers. And least we forget, the most supreme pumpkin of all has to be the pumpkin pie.

I wanted to share one of my favorite pumpkin images with a little watercolor and ink pencil detail. I love all the shapes and sizes of the pumpkins and there's even a gourd thrown in. I captured this image in 2016 at Cheekwood Botanical Gardens Fall Harvest Festival. I hope you like it. By the way, I'm covering all things Halloween and Fall, in case you haven't made a note of it yet. Stand by, more is coming. ENJOY!

Waxing Nostalgic

Just what does waxing nostalgic mean . . .

To wax in this instance is to grow (as the moon does when it isn't waning). 

The word is related to the German "wachsen" meaning much the same. 

Nostalgic originally meant homesick, but now generally refers to a longing for bygone days.

In other words "having an increasing longing for times past".

. . . an old 1950's Chevrolet Bel Air with a hood ornament or as we used to say "Chevy"

. . . a faded red 1960's Plymouth Belevdere

. . . an old Dodge truck

. . . an old 1960's Ford Galaxie 500

. . . old style logos and graphics from by gone days

. . . and least it slips our minds, the 1930's Ford Police Utility Wagon or as it reads, "Paddy Wagon"

I hope you enjoyed this trip down memory lane as I was waxing nostalgic this evening and couldn't resist the urge to throw up some images from my trek to Old Car City in Cartersville, Georgia, from last August's trip. What a unique and remarkable place. I would love to go back some time. Hope you are all well. It's a tad warm here in middle Tennessee with temps in the upper 90's. ENJOY!

Christmas Boat Parade, Old Hickory Lake

Just a few of the boats as they glided along on Old Hickory Lake tonight for the Christmas Boat Parade. The boat parade was held for many years and then it was cancelled. Last year they brought the parade back, but I didn't make it down to the shore.

The only sailboat that launched for the parade. This photo didn't do it justice.

One of the many Santa Claus's perched atop the boats. I think one of my favorite things about the parade was the lights reflecting on the water. It really added a dimension I wasn't expecting.

You can't see them, but there are quite a few folks standing on top of the roof of this houseboat next to Santa Claus waving and shouting, 'Merry Christmas.' And I kept shouting back with other folks on the shore, 'Merry Christmas.'

Here is my favorite boat of the Christmas Boat Parade this year with Santa Claus and his Reindeer. I would have taken more images, but it was a balmy 29 degrees tonight and so cold. Brrrrr! ENJOY!

Linking to Foodie Friday & Everything Else

European White Waterlily

The star of the show. That is the only way I could describe this beautiful European White Waterlily as it sat afloat on the pond's surface with it's huge green Lily pads surrounding it. The reflection in the water was almost as beautiful as the Lily itself. Amazingly, every photographer around was at some point standing post with their tripod near the water's edge capturing image after image. Hence, the 'star' of the show.

I don't know what my favorite Waterlily would be should I choose one from all of the images I captured on my journey to Gibbs Gardens. There were such gorgeous varieties everywhere. The blues and purples, however, were the most stunning. Warm colors always are, don't you agree. On another note this weekend is supposed to be stellar and I have decided to plan a trek to Cheekwood to take in their Mums display. The word on the street is they have a cottage made out of pumpkins and I surely must photograph it, not to mention the S

Linking to Foodie Friday & Everything Else

New Year's Eve Wishes!

May light always surround you. Hope kindle and rebound you. May your hurts turn to healing. Your heart embrace feeling.

May wounds become wisdom. Every kindness a prism. May laughter infect you. Your passion resurrect you.

May goodness inspire your deepest desires. Through all that you reach for.

                                                                                                       D. Simone

HAVE A PROSPEROUS, HEALTHY AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.
ENJOY!